Stuart goes to Colorado for picks, Boyle ends up with Rangers (nailed it) while Havlat a Devil — and Wilson on staying out of the free agent market

SAN JOSE – While most NHL teams were shopping for veteran talent Tuesday, the Sharks were going the other direction, sending Brad Stuart to the Colorado Avalanche for a second-round pick in 2016 and a sixth-round pick the following year.

All part of Doug Wilson’s master plan to turn over more responsibility to his younger players and if that means a veteran or two or three want to leave, so be it.

Stuart had some control over the situation, a partial no-trade clause, according to capgeek.com. Wilson said he and the defenseman’s agent Pat Brisson found a deal that worked for both sides.

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You can read more on the trade in the story I filed earlier and available online here .

Compared to all the other player movement going on this first day of 2014 free agency, that trade is just a small blip on the screen. By my count, about 60 players changed teams today and those include two former Sharks that Wilson decided did not fit in his team’s plans for the future.

The easier decision had to be Marty Havlat, a disappointment since his arrival in 2011 because of injuries and general inability to fit in. The Sharks made Havlat their first contract buyout and he landed a one-year deal with the New Jersey Devils, who will pay him $1.5 million on top of the $2 million the Sharks owe him this season and next.

Dan Boyle ended up with the New York Rangers – and if you go back and read Working the Corners from May 16, you’ll see that’s where I projected he’d end up with Tampa Bay as my suggested Plan B. Boyle signed a two-year deal for $9 million, less than he could have made in Detroit and probably elsewhere.

No, Boyle never tipped me off that he wanted to be a Ranger. When I let him know that’s where I thought he’d end up, all I got back was a “We’ll see.” But the Rangers had been interested in Boyle in the past. And when Marty St. Louis landed there at the trade deadline, it made even more sense. The two were teammates in Tampa Bay when the Lightning won the cup, but beyond that, they share an uncommon number of personality traits. Both lack the size normally associated with the game they play and both had to overcome that to reach the NHL.

Neither was drafted, both were rejected by their first teams – Boyle by Florida, St. Louis by Calgary. They both take a lot of pride in overcoming all that to have long and successful NHL careers, but neither lost the chip on the shoulder.

Same side of the same coin, just a different position.

Anyway, played a hunch that’s where Boyle would end up and it paid off.

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****Doug Wilson has never been a big believer in major moves on July 1, but he’s never been less interested than today. Anyone who thought he might have been thinking about adding a veteran presence simply hasn’t been paying attention or didn’t take him at his word.

Not this year. Not at this “rebuild” phase. Fans may see it as a sign that the Sharks are throwing in the towel. Wilson does not.

“We’ve clarified our plan and we have very talented players. What we’re doing and we’re not going to waver from it, we’re going to give those players an opportunity to step up in more advanced roles. We have some really key young players — the Hertls, the Nietos — that we expect to take even more of a role.

“We haven’t wavered from our belief. We made a commitment to give our young players and opportunity to come in – some of them next week in our development camp. They’re going to come into camp and take spots on this team. We’re not wavering from that.”

“There’ll be a time and place for us to be active in the free agent market, but it’s certainly not now while we’ve committed to our younger players,” Wilson added. “There’s players that fit for now and the future and if it was a trade acquisition, that’s something we would explore.

“We don’t want to give up cap space, or opportunities and ice time, while we’re going through this phase. We have no plans to look in the UFA market at this point.”

****By all indications, neither Thornton nor Marleau have given the green light to a trade anywhere. Still, you have to ask if something has changed on that front.

“You know how it works,” Wilson said. “Every conversation I have with the players is kept in confidence and we explore things that work out for all parties involved.”

And on that note.

David Pollak

David Pollak has been following the NHL forever and at the Mercury News as an editor or reporter since 1987. For almost a decade he wrote about the Sharks as the paper's Fan in the Stands before joining the sports department in 2001. He became the Sharks beat writer before the 2007-08 season and began this blog at that time. You can also follow him on Twitter at @PollakOnSharks.

Does anyone really care what dw has to say about this? is it any different then any other year where he waits then over pays someone to sit in the press box for half a season? Also, I am not sure how the thinks the cupboard has the talent to fill out the roster, most high level picks over the past few years were traded for 20 game rentals.

J B

If Jumbo and Patty both want out, Wilson could at least get bodies coming in the trades to take their roster places, but what about defense? Boyle and Stuart are gone, Hannan likely becomes the seventh Dman (the original plan when when he returned, we thought) if they resign him. Mueller hasn’t played at this level – barely at the AHL level yet – and Tennyson wasn’t used at all in his few call-ups last season, hardly a ringing endorsement. I know July 1 is early and things can change but as it stands a strategy of using the system to fill vacancies on defense seems overly risky.

Andrew

Maybe this strategy is Hasso trying to cut the budget a bit and also prevent another Havlat, but I agree – defensive talent from within looks thin and premature at best.

TheDrkBlu

Can’t believe he managed to get a 2nd rounder for Stuart, especially after the Murray deal. Guess it’s a good thing that NHL GM’s are a pretty clueless bunch huh?

It still doesn’t make up for the fact that this is probably going to be the most frustrating offseason in recent history. Instead of actively working to make the team better by adding the top 6 forward and top 4 dman that the team really needs DW is going to pout, take his toys and go home while SJ’s closest competition gets better. Unless there are some very pleasant surprises in the coming months SJ is going to be in that limbo where they aren’t really good enough to win it all but not bad enough to get a good pick either.

Bob

gorges got a 2nd. that would of been steal and plug a gap on the blue line. the big difference is that the 2nd for stuart is closer to a 3rd and the 2nd for gorges is closer to a 1st.

TheDrkBlu

Even though it was an extreme long shot, I was really hoping that we’d get Erhoff back. SJ’s def would’ve been solid if that happened.

ZEKE

According to capgeek, the Sharks were 3rd in payroll spending last season.

Today, capgeek has us 21st in cap spending.

Columbus and Montreal are the only playoff teams from last year with less committed cap $$ to the upcoming season.

Hockeynut

The West continues to load up (well except the Sharks) Brad Richards to Chicago.

David

They aren’t going to be remotely close to being a fringe team this year. With the current roster configuration they wont even make the playoffs.

ZEKE

I think adding Ehrhoff and Jussi Jokinen would have made this team a lot better and at $4mil per year for each guy, manageable deals.

A blue line of Ehrhoff, Vlasic, Braun, Demers, Burns and Irwin would be pretty darn respectable.

And if Mueller and/or Tennyson started to develop on the blue line, move Burns back into the forward rotation. That’d be a good team, and you wouldn’t be squeezing any youngsters out of the line up. Truth is, I’m not sure we have ANY young forwards that are being squeezed out at this point.

ZEKE

Just out of curiousity DP, what was the payoff you referred to from getting Boyle to NYR correct? In my home, the payoff would go like this:

Me: Hey honey, remember that prediction I made about Dan Boyle
Her: No
Me: Well, I made and I was correct
Her: The plants need watering and can you get the mail while your out there

Payoff!!!

zakk the bear

Yeah, staying out of the UFA market has worked so well for Doug Wilson, almost as well as his draft record. Now he is “turning over” the roster to younger players when Goldobin, who has been a shark for 4 days is more talented than any 3 prospects together, and that isn’t saying much. There isn’t a defenseman that is ready to take Stuart’s spot, Hannan is still here, and no one even close to replacing Boyle.

Are the Sharks going for McJesus and I am just the last to know?

GP_hockeyhappens

“I think adding Ehrhoff and Jussi Jokinen would have made this team a lot better and at $4mil per year for each guy, manageable deals.”

I am preparing to hear/read this all season long… 😉

ZEKE

Well, the Boyle of last season isn’t going to be hard to replace. He really was a shell of himself. The concussion had a lot to do with it — probably everything to do with it. But he wasn’t very good.

Burns can take Stuart’s spot and be an upgrade (though it downgrades our forwards a lot).

Still, I’m with you on the point that staying away from FA is a good approach.

Colin Ware

As we sit here admiring our beautiful cap space, teams in the West are getting better…

Teejay

Memo to Doug Wilson:
I’m already getting tired of hearing “we’re committed to our younger players”. Doug, you’re just playing a mind game with us so that when April comes and the Sharks do not make the playoffs you’ll say “I told you so”. It’s clear that this next season will be just going through the motions.
In the Pacific, the Ducks are already better than the Sharks with the addition of Kesler. And the Kings are already better than the Sharks merely by what they did in the playoffs.
I don’t necessarily disagree with peddling Stuey but that leaves an already thin D thinner.

ZEKE

This offseason has a very punitive feel to it.

Sharks mgmt appears angry with their on ice performance, especially with 12 and 19. Certainly with Havlat. Perhaps with Stuart and Boyle.

They also appear angry with the city of San Jose, making vague comments about leaving. They are angry with the TV deal $$ and blew the most recognized (and well regarded) Shark broadcaster off of the Sharks broadcast network.

They appear to be aggressively dumping payroll, not taking steps that might lead them back towards the playoffs. This from a team that had 111 points despite mediocre goaltending, a pretty beat up blue line, an injured Calder candidate (probbly winner if he’d stayed healthy) and a couple more injured forwards who missed huge chunks of the year.

This has a ‘cut your nose to spite your face’ punitive feel about it. If this is really Hasso’s style, there will be a lot fewer fans in the not too distant future.

ZEKE

set it to music, it’ll sound better

Tracy Tim

Thank goodness all is quiet on the Thornton/Marleau front. Hopefully the book is closed on the idiotic idea of losing the two. Glad to see a shift in focus to pressure the younger guys who have tons of potential and are starting to live up to it.
On the D-line I am thankful Boyle is gone.
Boyle was the big problem on defense from putting pucks in the other teams net to not holding the blue line 50 plus % of the time to skating slower than my grandmother.
Justin Braun has got a cannon for a shot from the blue line and the man is extremely accurate. His D skills are as good as any D-man in the game and he will continue to shine.
With Vlasic, Burns permanently on the blue, Demers, Irwin and the rest of the younger guys on D I don’t see a problem on the blue for next season. Our current young crop of D-men will only get better.
My gut always said Boyle was a problem in the locker room. His performance on the ice was not very good by my eyes and I’m thrilled he’s gone. The Sharks improve just by NOT having him around.

renoshark

“There isn’t a defenseman that is ready to take Stuart’s spot, Hannan is still here, and no one even close to replacing Boyle.”

We have the D-men. However, they’re young D-men. Stuart’s and Hannan don’t have large skates to fill.

renoshark

“Hopefully the book is closed on the idiotic idea of losing the two.”

The book isn’t closed. DW is just unable to open the book right now.

renoshark

Mueller will be fine. He’s got about 5 more AHL games than Hampus Lindholm did and Tennyson is probably an upgrade over Hannan or Stuey.

renoshark

“Today, capgeek has us 21st in cap spending.”

You hit the nail on the head. I think it’s all about salary dump and cost savings for the foreseeable future until DW feels he has the pieces in place to make another run at the Cup, at which time Hasso will green light him to spend to the cap. Maybe not for a couple years though.

SharksA’sRaiders

Hmmm. Everyone was quick to shout “Thornton! Marleau! Boyle!” when DW made his cryptic “I want players who want to play here, not just live here” comment. This whole time, could it have really been most about Brad Stuart? The guy was essentially re-acquired because he wanted to come back “home” to San Jose and his family. In fact, the Wings more or less dealt Stuart to SJ almost as a favor.

SharksA’sRaiders

I doubt highly Boyle was a problem in the locker room. The guy was a no nonsense leader of men, and probably should have been captain. But, I think it was wise for SJ to walk away from these older guys. Boyle really was never the same after he got his face smashed into the boards in St. Louis.

SharksA’sRaiders

Agreed. The tone is just awful coming out of the leadership at SAP Center. The whole thing with Remenda was the cherry on the doo doo sundae. The only difference is that I think the team as crafted now is still good enough to contend in the West, provided the coaching staff has a gameplan versus LA. My attitude however changes dramatically for the worst if Marleau, and especially Jumbo are no longer part of the team.

SharksA’sRaiders

Do keep in mind that Brent Burns *is* Dan Boyle’s replacement. Who replaces Burns on offense is a question though. My guess is that a season of healthy Raffi and Hertl, along with the progression of Shephard, Wingels and Nieto form the committee of goals necessary to carry the day. Burish and Kennedy can also redeem themselves with healthier/improved seasons to carry the (don’t laugh!) void left by Havlat. Sharks are more talent rich than I think we’re letting on as many of the players I just mentioned played less than half of 2013-14.

renoshark

IMO roster changes aren’t done yet.

SharksA’sRaiders

Definitely another D man will find his way to San Jose. Either by way of trade or low-profile signing. I can’t see them rolling with the D core as it is now. They’re one injury away from being far too thin.

book is closed until trade deadline for sure.
if we fall too much behind playoffs spot around jan-feb then maybe sooner.
but i think we’re talking the wrong book here because the book we should read now is who comes and not who is leaving.

spooky

glad to hear nobody is matching/beating wingels-sheppard-demers offers. or however that works.

NB Finfan

…and dont forget to change the batteries in the smoke alarms ; )

ppc

Hope DW is lying through his teeth because he missed his FA targets, because if he didn’t take a few shots he’s totally incompetent, even if he’s being 100% truthful about the stated goal of bringing up youth.

renoshark

I think his plan is to let the kids grow up and gain experience while saving $$$ during the youth movement. Once he feels that growth and improvement has reached a certain level, and a deep playoff run is a possibility, then I can see him being active in the FA market and making some name trades as well. I think we’re in cost savings mode for awhile.

Alex

Doug Wilson has never been a big free agency kind of GM but still I did not expect him to do nothing today. A sad day to be a Sharks fan.

ppc

That is a horrendous misjudgment of the talent we have on the team right now, and a complete waste of one or more seasons. That is incompetence.

We need to be going hard after the likes of Vrbata. We can’t deliberately enter a prime season for so many of our players with fatal holes in our lineup that we could address.

Alex

I would argue that they are already far too thin. Who is our second best D-man? Demers? Braun? Ouch.
I would think definitely more defensive help is coming. Sure hope so.

Topcatone

So, he can’t win either way. Nice.

Clemenza

The trade deadline ain’t for like 10 more months… If something needs to be done, there’s a little time left…

ppc

While that is true, the holes are too large to look at trade deadline deals as the solution. We risk being in altogether poor position at that point, in which case we’d be sellers and further squander what we have.

elbows99

Stuart was horrible in the playoffs against the Kings. Thank goodness he’s gone. I would have traded him for a used puck bag. Can’t believe the Av’s gave up anything.

N05tradumba55

We could have longer Summers….

Buddy Elf

Weird… when the Sharks lost, everyone was saying this kind of stuff needed to happen… well, that, or the ridiculous ‘trade Hannan for Crosby straight up’ NHL crap that had no chance of ever happening.

Now that what they whined for is happening, people don’t like it…. (and really, not a big deal losing remenda, which he even saw coming before the LA series so it had nothing to do w/ the loss… yah, i liked him, but the linking of the loss and his contract not being renewed is silly))

If you can get out of a crappy contract or renegotiate better terms, through the media, why not try? if it doesnt work, you’re in the same spot you’re already in… if it does work, thats more money in your pocket.

Buddy Elf

THIS… not sure why people think it is done.

Buddy Elf

“almost as well as his draft record”

Not a single person who knows way more than you about hockey and drafting would agree.. he is consistently ranked high on lists, especially considering the Sharks drafting position.

N05tradumba55

As long as there’s no “Sutter” name in the organization he might make it.